Since 1985, in various formats, SLANT -- an independent voice based in Richmond's Fan District -- has offered its readers original commentary on politics and popular culture, including cartoons and selected sundries. Warning: Sometimes that means satirical content. All rights are reserved.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

The Bloody Interregnum

With the votes for the recent attorney general election having just been recounted -- today Creigh Deeds conceded to Bob McDonnell, and that should be the end of it -- one of Richmond’s most colorful periods was brought to mind today when I paid a visit to Gallery 5. The new gallery space is on the second floor of the old firehouse (1849) at 200 W. Marshall St., across from the legendary Milk Bottle Building in Jackson Ward. It seems the Steamer Company No. 5's building played a role in what is known as Richmond's “Bloody Interregnum.” That’s according to Tom Robinson, who has maintained the Virginia Fire and Police Museum in that unique building since the 1970s, when he saved it from the wrecking ball.

The Bloody Interregnum was the name given to the politics-gone-wrong brouhaha over whether George Chahoon or Henry K. Ellyson was the lawful mayor of Richmond. When the five-year military occupation of Virginia following the Civil War ended on January 26, 1870, Gov. Gilbert C. Walker promptly appointed a new City Council for Richmond. That body in turn selected Henry K. Ellyson, publisher of The Dispatch -- forerunner to today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch -- as the city’s mayor.

However, George Chahoon, who had served as mayor during the last two years of Reconstruction, refused to recognize the validity of the process. Although the transplanted New Yorker had a considerable following around town, he was seen by Ellyson’s backers as a lowdown “carpetbagger.” After all, Chahoon had served at the pleasure of the military overlords.

When neither man would give ground, the city itself fractured. As positions solidified, the split became a chasm; the result of which created two separate city governments. There were two police departments, two City Halls, etc.. Brawls became commonplace as the supporters of both men sought to press their case on every street corner. Chaos, with gunplay aplenty, ensued.

Notably, in spite of the fact that Richmond served as the capital of the Confederacy during a portion of the Civil War, it was not without its Union sympathizers. In fact, Richmond was quite divided on the topic of secession before the war. During and after the war there were substantial elements present that could be characterized as pro-Union.

Like America’s 2000 presidential election, in 1870 the impasse found its way into court. On April 27, the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals met to hear arguments from the two camps on the third floor of the state Capitol building.

The anxious citizens shouldered onto the balcony to witness the spectacle. Suddenly it collapsed under all the weight. The balcony and spectators crashed onto the hapless below. Widely known as The Capitol Disaster, when the smoke cleared the tragedy left 62 people dead and 251 injured.

Two days later, the court reconvened at City Hall. In due time, a verdict favorable to Ellyson was returned. A month later, a citywide election took place. But no clear winner emerged from that exercise, either. This time the contentiousness stemmed from the disappearance of a ballot box from a precinct friendly to Chahoon. Same as ever, both sides traded more accusations. Although Ellyson was certified as the winner by the election board, he declined to serve because the election results were tainted, therefore inconclusive. Thus, the battle raged on.

Eventually Chahoon left town to avoid facing the consequences of several felony indictments - supposedly of a nonpolitical nature - that were heaped upon him. For his part, Ellyson grew weary of the struggle and withdrew from the race.

It finally ended on July 1, 1871, with the election of Anthony Keily as the one and only mayor of the exhausted city of Richmond. The actions of those who were most caught up in the 17 months of the Bloody Interregnum left stains on the landscape that strained relationships in Richmond for generations to come.

As a child growing up in Richmond, I heard adventure tales from my grandfather about this bizarre time. He claimed he was told by his salty old Uncle George (who was a sheriff, among other things) that most men in Richmond carried guns on the street in those wild days, much like what we've see in western movies. All of which makes today's local political scandals and battles seem rather tame.

Robinson -- whose daughter Amanda Robinson is the art gallery’s executive director -- said a city policeman was shot to death in the firehouse in 1870, while defending Ellyson’s camp from an attack by backers of Chahoon. Meanwhile, Gallery 5 appears to be an up-and-coming force being noticed by art lovers and nightlife aficionados alike. It's quite a lively scene on a First Friday.